Short Takes

James Lick Shows Off Talent
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Are you scouting for the next Lauryn Hill? Want to see some topnotch entertainment within walking distance of your home? Then be sure to attend the James Lick Talent Show (and fundraiser), kicking off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 22.
Believe it or not, James Lick Middle School, at 1220 Noe St., has been showing off the talents of its kids for 15 years. And make no mistake about it -- these kids are performers. At a recent rehearsal, the audience delighted in a feisty Ballet Folklorico stomp and wondered what had become of the lady who disappeared in the magic act. (There are no trap doors in the school's 500-seat art deco auditorium.)
The kids have been inspired by students from the city's School of the Arts, and polished to a shine under the direction of James Lick counselor Anthony Cavazos and PTA president Laurel Turner.
The price for the night of live entertainment is $2 (or $5 per family). For the stellar lineup, call Turner at 861-3718.
Your Masterpiece at City Hall
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At the request of Mayor Willie Brown, the San Francisco Art Commission is seeking artwork for a rotating exhibit in the newly refurbished City Hall. Works in all media will be considered, but the gallery's preference is for framed two-dimensional art suitable for wall display.
Interested artists should contact Rupert Jenkins, Gallery Director, at (415) 252-2568, or send a request for guidelines to City Hall Exhibitions, c/o S.F. Art Commission Gallery, 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94102. If you prefer e-mail, write sfacgallery@telis.org.
Saturdays at the Randall
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Throughout April, the Randall Museum offers drop-in art and science workshops for children every Saturday. However, on Saturday, April 17, the museum will also honor the 93rd anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake (April 18, 1906). From 1 to 3 p.m., kids can learn how a seismograph works, explore a refugee shack, see quake artifacts, and even try on clothes from 1906. There is also a short hike to an earthquake fault on Corona Heights Hill.
The following week, on April 24, is the Randall's annual Festival on the Hill. Interactive art and science activities will be featured, with live music and dance, kite-flying, giant puppets, drinks and hot dogs, and nature walks from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $4. The Randall Museum is at 199 Museum Way, off Roosevelt, above the Castro. Phone: 554-9600.
Kid Care at Women's Building
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The Women's Building is asking for proposals from early childhood professionals who might wish to operate a licensed, nonprofit daycare center on the site. Located near the corner of 18th Street and Lapidge, the building is now undergoing seismic retrofitting and renovation.
Interested childcare providers are invited to attend a meeting and tour of the facility on Monday, April 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. Proposals are due May 3. Selection of a provider will be completed in June, with the new center planned for March 2000. Call Gemma Cubero at 431-1180, ext. 16, to get a Request for Proposal or to make a reservation for the tour.
My Oh My Oh, Cinco de Mayo
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Don't miss San Francisco's annual Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival, honoring Jalisco, Mexico. This year the festivities will be held on Sunday, May 2, starting at 10 a.m. The parade will start at 24th and Bryant streets, and move up 24th Street and then down Mission Street to Civic Center Plaza. Elaborate floats will depict the Aztec calendar, an Aztec pyramid, Benito Juarez, the Cathedral of Guadalajara, and the Mexican Eagle.
At Civic Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., there will be five stages, featuring music and dance from mariachi, folk, Latin, and tropical bands. The event will also host a car show, food booths, and free activities for kids. Admission is $5; $2 for seniors. Children under 12 are admitted free. For information, call the Mission Economic Cultural Association at 826-1401.
Library to Close for Big Move
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The Mission Branch of the San Francisco Public Library has been operating out of temporary quarters at 2601 Mission St. since October 1997. At last, the branch is moving into its newly renovated home at 300 Bartlett (at 24th Street, between Mission and Valencia). As a result, the library will be closed from Sunday, April 11, through Monday, May 3, to move the books, computers, and other materials to the refurbished site. The branch will reopen on Tuesday, May 4, at 10 a.m.
The Bartlett Street building has not only been seismically upgraded, but extensively remodeled, with better lighting, new furniture and computers, a larger reading room, and murals by artist Emmanuel Montoya. A grand opening celebration, featuring Mayor Willie Brown, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, and Treasurer Susan Leal, has been set for May 8 at 1:30 p.m. To find out more, call 557-4277.
Free Help for Taxes
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Tax Aid offers free help preparing federal and state tax returns to San Francisco families with incomes less than $26,000. Trained volunteers can frequently find tax credits that can mean big savings. Last year, Tax Aid prepared 750 returns, with an average refund of $1,500. Just bring your W-2's, other proof of income, and tax forms to the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), 1245 Alabama St. (between 24th and 25th streets) on Saturday, April 3 or April 10, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, call Tax Aid at 281-1600.
Crisis Line Volunteers Needed
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Are you a good listener? Caring and supportive? If so, then San Francisco Suicide Prevention needs your help. Volunteers are needed to staff the SFSP's crisis line, providing emotional support in a nonjudgmental manner, crisis management, and referrals where needed. Extensive training is available, and the next training class will begin on April 29. Call 984-1900 for an application or to get more information. Bilingual and/or people of color are encouraged to apply.
Art, and More Art
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"Seductive Tales," a group of Teresa Moore's oil on canvas paintings, is coming to Noe Valley after exhibition in New York, Miami, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Canada, and Italy. Moore's art dwells on nightlife, good times, and fleeting romance. The shop 17 Reasons, at 3961 24th St., will showcase her works from March 30 through May 9. A reception will be held Saturday, April 10,from 3 to 5 p.m. Call 206-1717 for more information.
Meanwhile, the Arc Seniors Program will present an art show at the Noe Valley Ministry from April 4 to May 5. All of the artwork is created by developmentally disabled seniors who participate in the Arc's recreation and leisure program. The Ministry is at 1021 Sanchez St. For further details, call Amanda Ray at 255-7200.
Cover to Cover Blossoming
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Although they've just moved their inventory to a new location, the folks at Cover to Cover Booksellers haven't missed a beat. They're now launching the Growing Readers Program for the seventh year in a row.
During the month of April, the store will sport a tree filled with blossoms bearing the names of young readers. Each time a patron buys a book for one of the children, a bloom is pulled from the tree and replaced with a bright red apple bearing the name of the donor. All books donated will go to low-income or homeless kids, through either the "Home Away from Homelessness" program or the "Prescription for Reading" program.
Come by Cover to Cover's new store at 3812 24th St. (near Church), or call 282-8080 for more information.
Neighborhood Flea Market
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Ready for a little spring cleaning? Rent a space and sell your excess stuff at the James Lick School Flea Market on Saturday, April 10, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stall space will be available in the schoolyard at Castro and 25th streets for $10, $20, or $30, depending on the size of your space.
To rent a space, call Ray Ponce by April 6 at 695-5675, ext. 3144. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding field trips to Egypt and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, for James Lick's sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.
Study of Women with AIDS
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University of California at San Francisco medical researchers are conducting an infectious diseases study, and they need women with AIDS to volunteer to participate. Being in the study involves taking an approved medicine for five days, then having blood samples drawn, and undergoing a bronchoscopy. Four visits to the UCSF campus are also required. In exchange for their participation, volunteers are paid $350.
The researchers are particularly interested in recruiting women with AIDS who are nonsmokers and who are not taking protease inhibitors.If you can help, call 476-5398 and ask for Juliana or Mari.
Rainbows for Earth Day
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In celebration of this year's Earth Day, the Singing Rainbow Youth Ensemble will be joined by the San Francisco Children's Chorus in concert at the Noe Valley Ministry on Saturday, April 24, at 2 p.m. The show, full of original music about the Earth and her creatures, will be hosted by Robin Goodrow and Vanilla the Chimp, stars of the Saturday morning TV show Buster and Me (7 a.m., KRON).
Tickets are $5 for kids 12 and under and $10 for adults, and can be purchased from any member of the Singing Rainbow or at the Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St., during regular office hours.
Diamond Street resident Candy Forest, who directs both singing groups, says, "We are so excited about working with Robin Goodrow -- she is an international star." She adds that her Earth Day shows often sell out, "so get your tickets early."
If you don't luck out, you can tune in to Channel 52's Bay Views show, and hear the Singing Rainbow at a later date. Though this show will be taped on the actual Earth Day (April 22), it will be shown on April 30, May 1, and May 2 at 6:30 p.m. For information about the Chorus or the Rainbow, call Forest at 550-7752.
Jamestown's Jammin'
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The Jamestown Community Center invites you to dance the night away with the Brazilian funk/samba band Vivendo de Pao at the third annual Jamestown Jam. Proceeds from the event benefit Jamestown's youth programs, including after-school arts, science, and math classes, individual tutoring, sports teams, and health services.
This year's Jam takes place on Friday, April 30, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., at the 7th Note Showclub in North Beach, 915 Columbus Ave. Tickets cost $20 in advance ($25 at the door), and are available through Jamestown by calling 647-4709.